OK...time to back off and regroup. Something I've been doing over the last couple of months hasn't worked. I was able to hit 5k and 10k PRs while running more than 100 miles per week, but when I taper down, my aerobic capacity turns to shit. I am 0-3 in April. In all three races, I've gone out and suffered late in the game. Today was no different. I was exactly where I wanted to be at 5k, and then I fell off precipitously and was dropped by the two guys I'd been racing with. I had a real shot at 4 miles in here to hit my goal comfortably, but the heat coupled with a lack of strength (which I feel weird even typing, because that's usually my strong suit) made for an absolutely horribly off-pace last two miles.
I need to examine perhaps not what I've been doing over the last few months, but even over the last year. I've seemed to have plateaued, and that's no good. Moreover, my best two races this year came in time trials: the track 5k and the "No Rail on the Trail" 10k, which makes me feel like a chump who can't race. I'm feeling burned out, so it's more or less the perfect time to back of for 1-2 weeks. My competitive spirit is more ember than spark right now, and I want to get back to the ravenous hunger I've had before. My best period of running (12/07 - 4/08) immediately proceeded four weeks of ZERO running, albeit intense cross training.
But, at least as evidenced by Boston in 2008, I know I can race well if I'm 1.) well prepared and 2.) have my head on straight. Given my disappointing month of April, I'm beginning to question whether I had either.
I've got one more race this season on the track in a week and a half (either a 5k or a mile). After that, I'm going to take a few days cross training or totally off, and then I'm going to regroup. In June and July, my plan is to stay off the track as much as possible, save for the occasional "pure speed" workouts. This season, I've moved away from my core areas as a runner: high mileage, tempo runs, and fartleks. I retrospect, while all of the track work probably helped my 5k PR, I think it hurt my performances in longer races.
Most importantly, I want to get back to a point where running is less of a chore. I think that taking a higher volume, but less stressful approach to it is going to help my sanity a lot in the long term. That's probably where the real 1-2 week break is going to come into play. I'm ready for it, and afterward, I hope to have a nice summer farewell tour for DC and Maryland running before prepping for a fall marathon.
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